Half to henry koch



Nu. 6|3,8|2. I Patented Nov. 8, I898. H. ALBERSWERTH.

BOX FASTENER.

(Application filed Jan. 8,

(No Model.)

NTTED STATES PATENT I FFICE.

HENRY ALBERSVVERTH, OF NEW HAVEN, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY KOCH, OF SAME PLACE.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,812, dated November 8, 1898.

Application filed January 28, 1898. Serial No. 668,321. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, HENRY Amsnnswnnrma citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of Franklin and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Lid Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to box-lid fasteners, the object of the same being to simplify and make more efficient devices of this character and to provide means whereby when the fastener is in operative position the lid will be held by spring-pressure in close contact with the upper end of the box.

The invention consists of a rotatable shaft mounted on the box, having a laterally-projecting stud thereon and a downwardly-projecting arm constituting a handle,and a spring surrounding said shaft, having an engaging portion bearing against said handle and arms bearing against a rigid portion of the box, the stud on said shaft adapted to fit within aslot or recess in a cleat upon one end of the lid.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a box with my improved fastening device thereon, shown in operative engagement with the lid of the box, Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the box, showing the fastening device. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rotatable shaft. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the plate secured to the inner surface of the box adjacent to the slot therein. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the spring.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The box 1 may be of any suitable form and construction, having projecting outwardly from one end thereof one or more pins 2, as clearly shown. The end 3 of the box opposite that to which the pins 2 are secured is slotted or cut away, as shown at 4, and secured to the inner surface of the end 3, opposite the slot 4, is a metallic plate 5, having outwardly-extending lugs 6 6 secured thereto, which are formed with hooked or bifurcated lower ends. The said lugs are parallel one 53 to the other and lie adjacent to the side edges of the slot 4. Just beneath the slot 4 the end 3 of the box is formed with an external recess 7 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Fitting within the slot 4 is a rotatably-mounted shaft 8, whose ends are formed with pintles 9, which fit within the bifurcated or hooked ends of the lugs 6 6, upward movement of said shaft being limited thereby, but

rotarymovementthereofpermitted. Formed upon the shaft 8 is a laterally-projecting stud 10, the lower surface thereof being grooved or notched, as shown at 11. Also formed upon the shaft 8 and extending downwardly therefrom, preferably at right angles to the stud 7o means of a spring 14, the same being constructed of wire bent at its central point, forming a loop 15, which bears against the arm 12, beneath the shoulder 13 thereon, and formed with two coils 16 upon opposite sides of the loop 15, which surround the body part of the shaft 8, one on each side of the stud 10. The ends of the wire of which this spring is formed extend upwardly and outwardly from the coils 16, forming engaging portions '17 17, which bear against the outer face of the plate 5. From this construction it will be seen that the pressure of the spring is exerted in such a manner as to hold the arm 12,

constituting the handle, in its downward and v inward position.

The lid 18 of the box is formed with a cleat 20 at one end, which is provided with slots or openings 21 for the reception of the pins 2 on the box, and with a cleat 22 at its opposite end, formed with a slot or recess 23 upon its inner surface for the reception of the stud 10 on the shaft 8.

The operation of the device is as follows: Vhen it is desired to lock the lid 18 upon the box 1, that end of the lid which carries the cleat 20 is placed down upon the end of the box and the pins 2 2 inserted in the openings 21 in said cleat. The handle 12 of the shaft 8 is then drawn outwardly against the pressure of the spring 14, drawing the stud 10 upon said shaft upwardly and inwardly. The opposite end of the lid 18, carrying the cleat 22, is then free to be passed down upon the box. hen in place, the handle 12 is released, and through the action of the spring 1 1 the shaft 8, carrying the stud 10, is restored to its normal position. The said stud then fits within the slot or recess in the cleat 22, holding the lid securely in place upon the box. It will also be observed that the tendency of the spring 14 will be to force the stud 10 on the shaft 8 downwardly and will at the same time, by reason of the engagement of said stud with the lower edge of the slot or recess-23, force and hold the lid 18 down in contact with the upper edges of the sides of the box by spring-pressure. The edges of the slot or recess 28 may, if desired, be reinforced by a slotted plate 24. By this construction when the parts are in place accidental disconnection thereof will be effectually prevented.

To remove the lid 18 from the box, the reverse operation to that just described will be performed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A fastening device for box-lids, consisting of a rotatably-mounted shaft having a laterally-projecting.stud thereon which normally extends out beyond the edge of the box in which said shaft is mounted and is adapted to engage a projecting portion on the lid, a handle on said shaft provided with a shoulder, and a spring provided with an engaging portion which bears against said handle and fits beneath said shoulder for urging said handle downwardly and said stud outwardly.

2. The combination with a box having a slot in one end thereof and a recess in its outer surface beneath said slot and a cover having a cleat formed with a slot or recess therein, of a shaft located within said slot and capable of rotation, a laterally-proj ectin g stud on said shaft normally extending beyond the end of said box and adapted to fit within the slot or recess in said cleat, a handle on said shaft fitting within the recess in the end of the box and provided with a shoulder, and a spring provided with an engaging portion bearing against said handle and fitting beneath the shoulder thereon for holding the stud on said shaft in looking position, as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination with a box having a slot in one end thereof and a recess in its outer surface beneath said slot, and a cover having a cleat formed with a slot in its inner surface and a slotted reinforcing-plate for the edge of said slot, of a shaft located within said slot and capable of rotation, a laterallyprojecting stud on said shaft normally extending beyond the end of said box and provided with a groove in its under surface, the said stud adapted to fit within said recess and the said groove adapted to be engaged by said reinforcing-plate, a handle on said shaft fitting within the recess in the end of the box and provided with a shoulder, and a spring provided with an engaging portion bearing against said handle and fitting beneath the shoulder thereon for holding the stud on said shaft in looking position, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a box having a slot in one end thereof and a plate secured to its inner surface opposite said slot and a lid or cover having a ole-at upon one end provided with a slot or recess, of a pair of outwardlyextending lugs on said plate having bifurcated or hooked lower ends, a shaft fitting within the hooked lower ends of said lugs and capable of rotation, at laterally-projecting stud on said shaft normally extending beyond the end of said box and adapted to fit within the slot or recess in said cleat, a downwardly-extending handle on said shaft provided with a shoulder, and a spring constructed of spring-wire bent at its central point forming a loop which bears against said handle and engages the shoulder thereon, deflected upwardly upon each side of the stud on said shaft and formed with coils within which said shaft fits and having the ends thereof extending upwardly from said coils, forming engaging portions which bear against the outer surface of said plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ALBERSWERTII. lVitnesses:

J. R. BULLINGER, Jo MoENcH. 

